The vault was supposed to be an impenetrable, modern-day Noah’s ark for plants, a life raft against climate change and catastrophe. But a recent flood threatened its security – heavy rain occurred at a time of year when the temperature was usually well below freezing.

Scientists are building repositories of everything from seeds to mammal milk in a race to preserve a natural order. Creating cabinets of curiosity serving to remind us of our own mortality, of our mistakes and failures – a modern day Memento Mori.